Fire safety & health tips for long weekend bushwalkers & beachgoers
With high fire danger and hotter than average temperatures expected in many states over the long weekend, doctors and firefighters have a few safety tips to share if you’re going camping, bushwalking, or heading to the beach:
Dr Kim Loo, Doctors for the Environment Australia member and Western Sydney GP, says: “Going to the beach or camping is becoming more unsafe, because climate change is driving up extreme heat and bushfire danger. The direct impacts of heat include heat stress, heat stroke and dehydration. Children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing conditions like heart or kidney failure are the most vulnerable. If you’re going to the beach, go before 11 and after 5; stay hydrated, and make sure there’s enough shelter. If you’re going camping, check that your campsite isn’t forecast to be dangerously hot, check bushfire warnings, and avoid dehydration by taking enough drinking water.”
